The weekly report for the period from 2024-08-19 to 2024-08-25 outlines the activities and consultations conducted by the Service Juridique. During this week, a total of 15 consultations were carried out across various communication channels including Mastodon, Reddit, phone, Telegram, Messenger, and e-mail. The consultations covered several topics related to consumer protection, addressing diverse concerns raised by consumers seeking guidance.
In the realm of unfair business practices, six consultations were conducted, primarily focusing on businesses blacklisted for unfair practices. Consumers were advised to review the blacklisted entities available on our website and to avoid engaging in transactions with these businesses. Additionally, they were encouraged to share any misleading advertisements or agreements they encountered, which might warrant further investigation by Service Juridique.
Consultations on warranty on consumer goods accounted for four cases. In these instances, consumers were guided on their rights concerning defective products. They were advised to contact the retailer or manufacturer directly, citing their warranty rights under EU legislation, and initiate a replacement or repair request.
There were two consultations on travelers’ rights related to air travel. Consumers expressed concerns about flight cancellations and delays. They were informed about their entitlements under the EU Regulation 261/2004, including the right to compensation for significant delays or cancellations. The importance of maintaining all travel documents and receipts was emphasized to facilitate any claims.
Regarding unfair general terms and conditions, three consultations took place. Consumers questioned the fairness of certain clauses in contracts they were asked to sign. Our advice focused on the need to thoroughly scrutinize these terms and resist signing documents containing potentially unfair clauses that could infringe on their consumer rights.
Concerning health claims in food products, one consultation highlighted potential misleading claims. The consumer was advised to verify such health claims against EU-regulated lists of authorized health statements, and to report any discrepancies for further examination.
During this week, no consultations were recorded on travelers’ rights related to train travel or package holidays. Notably, one consultation failed to provide effective counseling due to the issue being outside the scope of our agency’s focus, dealing with real estate rental concerns, which falls outside EU consumer protection legislation.
The majority of consultations this week were conducted via e-mail, allowing for detailed exchanges where documentation could be shared and reviewed comprehensively. Overall, Service Juridique remains committed to assisting consumers by equipping them with relevant information to exercise their rights effectively within the EU framework.
This week counseling was provided by WhizzBang Viadrina.
